Pilot flying C-172 aircraft entered the runway environment while another aircraft was on short final.

Date: 2023-08 · Aircraft: Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172 · Phase: taxi

Anomalies: conflict-ground-conflict|critical|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|ground-incursion-runway

Synopsis

Pilot flying C-172 aircraft entered the runway environment while another aircraft was on short final.

Narrative

Around XA30 local time; I was in Aircraft X doing full stop taxi-backs. Tower was closed by now and there were 4 aircraft total in the pattern for [Runway] XXL. I was in front of a Cirrus (Aircraft Z) who was doing a full stop; and behind the Cirrus was a Cessna 152 (Aircraft Y). On my third taxi-back I heard Aircraft Y announce right downwind for XXL and the Cirrus announce base; once I got to the hold short line at [Taxiway] 1 was ready to go I heard the Cirrus call final and I visually identified them on final. I decided to hold in position and since I had yet to hear Aircraft Y call base and I could not see anybody on base or final behind the Cirrus I figured I had time to takeoff after the Cirrus. As the Cirrus was touching down for their full stop I announced my intention to take the runway and re-enter the pattern at XA26. Having not heard a base or final call from Aircraft Y and still not having any visual on them; I began moving and proceeded across the hold short markings; As I crossed them I checked final one more time and saw Aircraft Y rolling out on final from what appeared to be a relatively short approach (ADSB data looks like around 1/3mi from the runway threshold). I immediately came to a stop halfway between the runway and the hold-short markings at [Taxiway] 1. I called on the radio and indicated my intention to just hold in position as I thought that by the time I had managed to get the plane turned around and out of the runway area (i.e. back behind the hold-short markings) Aircraft Y would already have gone past us. Once they had done their touch and go I then continued onto the runway and reentered the pattern without incident. After reviewing the ATC archive there was no base; final; or short final call made by Aircraft Y. The last call they had made was a right downwind call. The severity of this incident was that there were two aircraft in the critical area of Runway XXL and when they passed me we were probably separated 300 ft. horizontally and 0 ft. vertically. The only thing that prevented a go-around or even potentially a collision was that I was trained to check final multiple times when entering a runway. What I could have done better: I could have been more cautious about taking the runway since I knew that Aircraft Y should probably have been coming around to land quite soon and I was expecting to hear them. I should have announced that I was entering Runway XXL again when I began moving; rather than just indicating my intentions to enter after the Cirrus was clear of XXL. I should be more diligent about checking visually for aircraft on base. The placement of buildings between left base and my location at [Taxiway] 1 made it difficult to clearly see an aircraft if they had just turned onto right base or were int the middle of the right downwind-base turn. I could have recognized that there were obstructions and just held my position until I had sight of Aircraft Y. I could have also called Aircraft Y and asked about their location. What Aircraft Y could have done better: they should make sure they make all necessary radio calls (crosswind; downwind; base; final; short-final).

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.